CEDAR CITY, UTAH -- After an hour and a half lightning delay, Sunday's game between the Thunderbirds and the Pioneers finally got underway, and SUU came up short, losing by a score of 2-5. 

The Thunderbirds fall to 1-4-1 on the season. 

Head Coach Kai Edwards said

"We competed very hard. A couple movements in each 18 was the difference. They are a really good team. I'm proud of the split on the weekend versus two talented teams. These are the games that will get us ready to play the top half of the WAC."

Game Recap
The Pioneers started the scoring early, just five minutes into the game Riley Baker went coast to coast and ripped one past the the goalkeeper. 

Just seven minutes later, Chelsea Loeser finished an absolute beauty on an assist from Steph Roper, and the score would remain tied 1-1 until the 28th minute when Liv Moritz capitalized on a defensive miscue and the Pioneers took a 2-1 lead into the half. 

The Pioneers started the second half by scoring again. Liv Moritz got her second of the game on an assist from Samantha Dreiling. Five minutes later, Denver added to its lead when Vanessa Murray found her sister, Megan Murray, on a through ball. She moved around the keeper and finished on the wide-open net. 

The Thunderbirds weren't going away quietly; Kiersi Fietkau scored her first goal of the season on an excellent strike from deep outside the box, with Whitney Gardner registering the assist to cut into the lead and pull within two. Gardner climbed into a tie for first in all-time assists in career history. 

The Pioneers added one more from Emma Thielbahr on a set piece corner from Ella Frost.

Statistical Recap

The Pioneers outshot the Thunderbirds 18 to six, but all of SUU's shots were on target. 

Darya Mosallaei had a phenomenal game despite giving up five goals. She was under siege from a powerful DU attack and held her own, coming up with seven saves, including multiple one-on-one hero saves. 

Loeser and Sarah Assumma led SUU with two shots each.

Up Next

After four straight home games, the Thunderbirds will hit the road and head to the state of Idaho to take on Idaho State and Boise St on Thursday, Sep 12, and Sunday, Sep 15. 

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